Water Film Prize "Back to Our Future"

Opening on March 22, 2025, the Water Film Prize: "Back to Our Future" presents a unique opportunity to explore and share new stories about Ancient Hydro Technologies (AHTs). The prize aims to highlight the vast range of ancient water innovations across cultures and geographies—time-tested water management solutions that have sustained civilizations for millennia. From the stepwells of India to the qanats of Iran and the khettara of Morocco, from the acequia networks of New Mexico to Peru's terraced irrigation systems, these technologies are not just open-air museums; they serve as inspiring solutions to contemporary water challenges and potential blueprints for future innovations.

"Back to Our Future"—an initiative launched by the Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU-NET) and Let’s Talk About Water (LTAW)—invites students, filmmakers, hydrologists, social scientists, and others to celebrate these ingenious water management systems through short films (3-5 minutes) of any genre, including animation, fiction, and documentary. The Water Film Prize will showcase how visual storytelling can transform complex scientific concepts into accessible, engaging narratives that inspire understanding, dialogue, and action.

As we confront the challenges of climate change and strive to meet the UN’s Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, film is a powerful tool for not only raising awareness of pressing water issues but also documenting, preserving, and sharing knowledge about past, present, and future water solutions.

Winning films will premiere at the 6th International Conference of WAMU-NET in Brasilia in November 2025, followed by screenings at prestigious venues, including the Let’s Talk About Water Film Festival (Paris) and the Luxor African Film Festival in 2026. The journey will culminate in 2027 at the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.